Hey Builder,

Something shifted in 2025, and I don't think we're talking about it enough.

While everyone's debating office return policies, over 50 million people worldwide have quietly decided to build their businesses from anywhere. And here's what caught my eye: 43% of them are women, up significantly from just a few years ago.

But this isn't about working from a beach with a laptop (though no judgment if that's your thing). It's about something much more profound: women are redesigning the entire concept of what "building a business" looks like.

The New Blueprint for Freedom

I've been studying the data, and a pattern keeps emerging. The most successful women entrepreneurs in 2025 aren't following the traditional playbook. They're not waiting for venture capital. They're not building for the sake of building. Instead, they're creating what I call "portfolio lives"—combining multiple income streams that work together, giving them both financial security and creative freedom.

Think about it: A content strategist who also runs a Notion template shop. A developer who freelances while building her SaaS product. A marketing consultant who teaches what she knows through online courses. These aren't side hustles in the traditional sense—they're intentional ecosystems designed for resilience.

The numbers back this up. Digital nomads with multiple income streams report higher satisfaction and better financial stability than those relying on a single source. And with AI tools now doing the heavy lifting on repetitive tasks, one person can genuinely run what used to require a team of five.

What Success Actually Looks Like Now

Here's where it gets interesting. The most celebrated women entrepreneurs of 2025 aren't just building billion-dollar companies (though some are). They're solving real problems in health tech, creating inclusive beauty brands, and building platforms that actually serve overlooked communities.

Take women-led startups—they're generating twice the revenue per dollar invested compared to male-founded companies. Why? My theory: women are building for actual market needs, not for what impresses investors. They're talking to customers, iterating quickly, and staying close to the problem they're solving.

But success isn't always about scale. I'm seeing more women intentionally choosing "slowmading"—staying in locations for 3-12 months, building deeper connections, and creating sustainable businesses rather than chasing constant growth. It's strategic, not accidental.

The Reality Check You Need

Let me be real with you: this lifestyle isn't all sunset photos and freedom. The challenges are real—timezone juggling, isolation, the constant need to prove yourself. But here's what the data shows: 42% of fully remote companies now have women in leadership roles, compared to just 14% in traditional S&P 500 companies.

The digital nomad lifestyle isn't just enabling women to work flexibly—it's creating leadership opportunities that didn't exist in traditional structures. Released from office politics and 9-to-5 constraints, women are thriving.

And the financial picture? Average income for digital nomads hovers around $124,000 annually, with many earning between $50,000 and $250,000. These aren't trust fund kids playing entrepreneur—they're serious professionals building serious businesses.

Three Things to Consider This Week

First, think ecosystem, not side hustle. What skills do you have that could combine into a portfolio of complementary offerings? The goal isn't to do more work—it's to create income streams that support each other.

Second, consider location as a strategic advantage. Countries like Portugal, Spain, and Thailand are rolling out digital nomad visas specifically designed for professionals like you. Lower cost of living doesn't mean lower quality of work—it means more runway to build.

Third, invest in AI literacy now. The entrepreneurs winning in 2025 aren't the ones working hardest—they're the ones leveraging tools to work smartest. Whether it's automating content creation, streamlining client management, or analyzing data, AI is your competitive edge.

The Question I'm Sitting With

If you could design your ideal work week from scratch—no constraints, no shoulds, no expectations—what would it actually look like?

Not the Instagram version. The real, honest version where you're doing work that matters, earning what you need, and living how you want.

Because here's what 2025 is teaching us: the women who are winning aren't trying to fit into someone else's definition of success. They're building their own.

P.S. What's holding you back from testing a location-independent project? I'm genuinely curious. Hit reply and let me know—your answer might become a future newsletter topic.